[Instructional Media Design](/majors/education/instructional-media-design/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong instructional media design education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 36 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value instructional media design schools.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in instructional media design, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked The University Of Texas Pan American the best value for a degree in instructional media design in the Southwest Region. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,799, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $14,694 in student loans. Instructional Media Design graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $58,960 early in their careers. Set against $14,694 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Lone Star College System one of the best values for instructional media design. Set in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,664, compared with $7,512 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $10,425. Instructional Media Design graduates of Lone Star College System earn a median of $24,321 early in their careers. Set against $10,425 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Sul Ross State University one of the best values for instructional media design. Located in the town of Alpine, Sul Ross State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,592, compared with $17,672 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,951 to complete the instructional media design program here. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $44,296. Set against $18,951 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes The University Of Texas At San Antonio one of the best values for instructional media design. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,326, while out-of-state students pay about $22,249. Students borrow a median of $23,312 to complete the instructional media design program here. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $49,955. Set against $23,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in instructional media design will find it at Lamar University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,905, compared with $18,745 for out-of-state students. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $26,988 in student loans. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $64,005. That is a strong return on a $26,988 median debt. Lamar University admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of North Texas ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value instructional media design schools. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. In-state tuition and fees average $11,309, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $21,817. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $62,520. Set against $21,817 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Northern Arizona University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value instructional media design schools. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. In-state tuition and fees average $12,619, while out-of-state students pay about $20,044. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $21,645. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $47,056. That is a strong return on a $21,645 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
American Intercontinental University Online placed #8 among the best values for instructional media design. Set in the city of Chandler, American Intercontinental University Online is a very large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,397. Students borrow a median of $39,107 to complete the instructional media design program here. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from American Intercontinental University Online generally make around $55,027. Set against $39,107 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sam Houston State University landed the #9 spot for instructional media design value this year. Located in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,228 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,068 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,850 to complete the instructional media design program here. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $46,365. Set against $24,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Texas State University San Marcos landed the #10 spot for instructional media design value this year. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $23,659. Instructional Media Design graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $47,456 early in their careers. Set against $23,659 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value instructional media design schools. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,140 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,060. Instructional Media Design graduates carry a median of $19,738 in student loans. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $49,983. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of New Mexico Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
Houston Baptist University came in at #12 for value in instructional media design this year. Houston Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,430. Students borrow a median of $25,601 to complete the instructional media design program here. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Houston Baptist University generally make around $57,088. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Houston Baptist University admits about 84% of applicants.
West Texas A And M University earned the #13 position for value in instructional media design this year. Located in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,101, with out-of-state students paying around $10,996. Students borrow a median of $22,333 to complete the instructional media design program here. Early-career instructional media design graduates make about $43,515. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. West Texas A And M University admits about 99% of applicants.
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value instructional media design schools. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $20,031. Instructional Media Design graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $65,086 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
Grand Canyon University came in at #15 for value in instructional media design this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,508. Typical student debt for instructional media design graduates is $30,027. Soon after graduation, instructional media design degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $66,830. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
